Jury to determine fate of convicted triple-murderer Billie Wayne Coble

Monday, August 25, 2008

By Tommy Witherspoon

Tribune-Herald staff writer

Jurors will begin the process today of determining whether convicted triple murderer Billie Wayne Coble will return to death row or be sentenced to life in prison.

Prosecution testimony in Coble’s capital murder punishment retrial begins this morning in Judge Matt Johnson’s 54th State District Court.

Coble, 59, spent more than 17 years on death row before a federal appeals court overturned his death sentence but left intact his conviction in the August 1989 deaths of Robert and Zelda Vicha and their son, Waco police Sgt. Bobby Vicha.

The trial will be a bit unusual from the standpoint that Coble no longer is afforded the presumption of innocence and the judge will instruct the jury from the start that he is guilty of murdering three people.

McLennan County District Attorney John Segrest and his top assistant, Crawford Long, have said they plan to call about 20 witnesses in Coble’s retrial.

For Coble to be sent back to death row, the prosecutors will have to convince jurors that Coble acted intentionally, that he constitutes a continuing threat to society and presented insufficient mitigating evidence that would make a life sentence more appropriate.

Coble’s attorneys, Russ Hunt Jr., and Alex Calhoun, are hoping to convince the jury that Coble has been a model prisoner on death row, has changed over the past two decades and is no longer a threat to society. They will present evidence of his troubled youth and his problems stemming from his service in Vietnam in mitigation for his actions.

“I feel comfortable that we have a number of excellent folks on the jury, and I am confident that if they will follow the law, we will be able to save Billie’s life,” Hunt said.

Testimony from Coble’s first trial 18 years ago showed that he was despondent over the impending breakup of his third marriage. He went to Axtell looking for his estranged wife, Karen Vicha Coble, and shot and killed her parents in their homes and then her brother after ambushing him in his garage as he came home.

Coble then kidnapped Karen Vicha and tied up her children and their cousin. He later got into a high-speed chase with authorities in Bosque County before wrecking his vehicle and injuring himself and his wife.

twitherspoon@wacotrib.com

757-5737

Comments

By Texas girl

Sep 6, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this

Yes I know he commited the crimes, and killing is wrong no matter what. But I think also there are times that someone is driven to kill. I believe that everyone has a killer instinct and if pushed to a point can indeed commit murder. I personally have been to that point but luckily for me and the other person I snapped out in time. I dont kow Billy very well but I do know that he had trouble with her parents coming between him and his wife. Maybe it isnt true but he thought it was , there fore he snapped. He should never get out of prison ,but the death penalty ? I am not sure ,there are people on death row much more a threat that he. I feel bad for Karen, but I feel bad for Billy too.

By concerned

Aug 27, 2008 10:48 PM | Link to this

I am very close to this case...knowing the facts, knowing HIM, I know he will continue to be a threat to society. He preyed on young girls, kidnapped and killed, continued to verbally threaten...Pray that the jury will do what is right and send him back to death row which hopefully be a SHORT stay.

By null

Aug 25, 2008 8:07 PM | Link to this

Billy Wayne Coble shot & killed Karen's parents & brother in cold blood. He knew exactly what he was doing. Karen lost her family because of him. He should have been put to death a long time ago. He has no rights !!!! Fry him !!

By jim

Aug 25, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this

The only thing the courts should do is issue a sincere apology to every tax paying citizen in Texas for wasting our money.

By Very Concerned

Aug 25, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

I lived in Axtell at this time this was going on. I also went to school with the 4 children Coble tied up. I was also a really good friend of the family's 1st wife. This is a horrible man!! The pain he has put all these family through and still is til this day. My heart goes out to all. This man should be put down like a strayed animal...He will never be good enough to live in this world. If for some reason he is granted just life in prision....they way the legal system seems to be working...he will make parole. Then what is the legal system going to do to protect these family's? He Will come after them again. That is just he nature.

By BJB

Aug 25, 2008 12:11 PM | Link to this

I appreciate the sentiment from the bloggers. Being extremly close to this situation no one knows the grief that this guy has caused the families. Years of sadness and grief. Years of seeing this guy in the newspaper and on the news everytime there is a possible legal reason for him to get out of prison to show up at the courthouse. Every time it opens up a very nasty wound. Hopefully the legal systme will prevail. It is unbelievable just how many people this guy has harmed yet still gets room, board, medical care and obviously unlimited legal assitance. Please legal team do everything possible to stop this endless agony.

By BJB

Aug 25, 2008 12:11 PM | Link to this

By BJB

Aug 25, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this

By Carlene Baxter

Aug 25, 2008 11:12 AM | Link to this

I can not believe the waste of tax payers money, and why is he still he, why do they wait to terminate the lives of people found guilty on death row. I thought he was already gone. He is going to hell, let him get their and burn. The fact that he can still torment the families of the people he killed, when will they ever get to find justice. And justice for all is what they served as police officers, what example is this setting for police officers and their families. I respect each and every police officer out their for putting their lives on the line daily to serve and protect us, the fear each day their families face on wondering if their police officer spouse, son or daughter, sister or brother, aunt or uncle, etc will return home. Can we not strap a bomb vest on him for research studies to determine the effect of damage they do and possibly save some lives here and a broad. I know that sounds crazy, but the fact he is still here is crazy. He was found guilty, death row, eliminate, follow thru with the procedure. In the bible it says do not kill, ask forgiveness and it shall be granted-he should have already seen the Lord to be serving the Lords decision, not ours.

By KDF

Aug 25, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this

Our legal system has grown to be a travesty. Some folks don't even go to trial 'till years later, after the crime. I say that when a crime is committed, investigate the crime, give the information to the DA, select jurors, and then go to trial. Following the verdict (if guilty), give one appeal.

Now once the bad guy is found, it should be no more than one year that the sentence is carried out fully. This may sound harsh to many, and as a Christian it is difficult for me to blog this. God did not intend for life to be fair. It is how we handle our circumstances that are before us. <

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